misconception is that safety is an isolated topic pursuedby specialists and misunderstood by line management.That is true to the extent that managers have eitherignored or been unaware of safety procedures or havechosen to take risks without considering the impact onthe total operation. As a manager, you must accuratelyassess the impact of your decision on the organizationand its goals. You must know what steps to take toincorporate safety procedures and processes into themanagement process. If you decide to take risks, youmust do so with full knowledge of the expected impact.Safety is economical. Absolute safety might beachieved by doing nothing, but safety by definition isassociated with the pursuance of some endeavor,industry, activity, or operation. Therefore, safety andrisk management are part of any operation, whetherconsciously or unconsciously invoked by management.Safety specialists must advise management/supervisorsof how safety will enhance productivity, operationaleffectiveness, morale, and safe time in achievingorganizational goals.First-line supervisors are essential to safetySOH management can be enhanced by safetymanagement principles and safety policy statements.You can enhance the safety and occupational health ofyour unit by observing safety management principlesand safety policy statements. Organizations shouldpublish these items as a guide for managers, supervisors,and workers. The actions, processes, evaluations, andcorrections prompted by the safety staff, and used bymanagers, supervisors, and workers, must incorporatesafety management techniques.You may find the following SOH principles useful:Good management fosters safety. Safetymanagement is the part of the management process thatwatches for and takes steps to prevent potential hazardsand failures which could result in injury and propertydamage. Safety is that part of the decision-makingprocess which considers the effects on workers,material, and organizational relationships.Safety is part of the professional job. SOHconcepts and procedures need to be integrated and madepart of the professional approach to every job from topmanagement through the first-line supervisor to theworker. SOH should be integrated into all training andapprentice programs. Safety demands cooperationamong all levels of management and workers.Top management and command must beinvolved. Top management must take the lead inorganizing SOH, setting policy, and assigningaccountability. Management must hold intermediatemanagement levels accountable for all preventablemishaps. To be effective, mishap investigators MUSTNOT convict or punish managers, supervisors, orworkers, but should strive to impartially assess theevidence and develop recommendations to avoid futuremishaps. The cause of a mishap may not be the result ofone single event or design flaw. Management must worktoward a safe and healthful operation or system througheffective managerial methodsmanagement. First-line supervisors, shop foremen,work center supervisors, and leading petty officers needtime to present stand-up safety briefings. They must alsohave the proper tools and personal protective devices tosafely conduct operations. They should be givenadequate resources and should be accountable for thesafe conduct of production and operation.Eliminate unsafe acts to reduce mishaps. Anunsafe act, an unsafe condition, or a mishap is asymptom of problems in the management system.Managers and supervisors should examine thesesymptoms to find and eliminate their causes.Severe mishaps should receive first priority.Certain unsafe circumstances can be predicted andcontrolled. The following are some examples:1.2.3.4.5.6.7.Unusual, nonroutine activitiesNonproductive activitiesHigh-energy sourcesCatastrophic conditionsExplosive operationsLack of proper supervisionInadequate operator skillYou should manage SOH as you would any otherorganizational function. Direct the safety effort bysetting achievable goals and by planning, organizing,and controlling to achieve them. Workers mustparticipate in goal setting and in developing mishapprevention strategies and actions to reduce injuries andmaterial losses.The safety officer fills a staff position. The SOHstaff or the safety professional is an advisor. Themanager is responsible for safety and safe decisionmaking, including loss control and risk management.The safety advisor must monitor and assist in theinvestigation of mishaps. He or she collects data;5-5